mathematica

[chibianh]

Anyone has any experience using Mathematica for OSX? I use the windowz version often and was just wondering how it compares to the osx version or if there are any major differences. Thanks.

Anh

[Taft]

It works surprisingly similarly to the Windows and Unix versions. The way they wrote it makes it very portable and it translates well to many different systems.

I use it for quantitative research for a financial firm. I do a lot of work with JLink and some with Mathlink. JLink works like a dream on OS X. Graphics are also very good--similar to their Windows counterparts.

Can I ask what you use Mathematica for primarily? I am a big fan of it and try to use it whenever I can for quick projects and research. I love the way it integrates with Java (I'm a big fan of that language as well).

Matthew

[chibianh]

I've began using Mathematica here at school just a couple of months ago. I mostly use it to check answers. However, in one of my classes, we've began using Mathematica to simulate and analyze waves. I will be using Mathematica a lot more in my years to come, I'm sure of it. Do you know if there is anything different between the educational version and the regular one? I can get an educational discount and it would only cost me $299 instead of $1000+. Err, at least I think it's over $1000. Thanks.

[Taft]

The educational version is pretty much identical to the regular version. The exact difference is outlined on Mathematica's site (www.wolfram.com). The educational version is a great deal. Well worth the savings.

I finally got Mathematica for OS X just a couple of weeks ago. I got it through a home use license from work which means I have to pay nothing for it. I'd been looking for a long time to find a discounted version of Mathematica because I really wanted it at home. I couldn't find one. And I tried just about every avenue available to me.

In fact, I know the author of JLink who has been a software developer for Mathematica for a very long time. My boss has known him for a while and he has done some consulting for us so I've gotten to know him pretty well. Anyway, I had asked him if there was any way to get a copy of Mathematica for less than retail, and he said the only way was through the educational discount. Bummer.

I was so happy when my boss said we could get home use licenses. Made my year!

Matthew